Manningham Housing Association
Director of Finance and Company Secretary
Briefing Papers
January 2017
Manningham Housing Association Director of Finance and Company Secretary
Contents
Welcome letter 1
About Manningham Housing Association 2
Organisational structure 4
Job description 6
Person specification 8
Terms and conditions 10
Recruitment timetable 11
Further information 11
How to apply 12
Appendix 1 | Recruitment monitoring form 13
Appendix 2 | Advertisement 15
Manningham Housing Association Director of Finance and Company Secretary
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Welcome letter
Dear Applicant,
Director of Finance and Company Secretary
Thank you for your interest in the opportunity of becoming Director of Finance and Company Secretary at Manningham Housing Association.
MHA had an organisation review and a major restructure in 2011 and I joined the Board in 2013. Since the review, MHA has delivered great performance and customer services and we are a top quartile performance organisation in many areas of our work. Last year we won a number of awards including the Customer Scrutiny Inspection (CSI) awards UK. This celebrates and recognises the fantastic work we have been carrying out with our tenants group and our scrutiny panel over recent years. We were announced the winners in a variety of categories including the Landlord of the Year 2015 (as voted for by customers) and polled by far and away more votes than any other landlord.
However we do not want to sit on our laurels as there is much work to be done to ensure that we take the organisation to greater heights and fulfil the potential that still exists. We have faced many daunting challenges including the impact of welfare reform changes and the rent reductions that have affected all housing associations. We are planning on making £1m reductions on revenues budget over the next four years and have made big progress already. We have recently updated our Business Plan which takes these issues into account and describes our vision for the future and sets out a range of challenging goals to help us achieve it.
Both the Board and Executive Team are incredibly ambitious for MHA and are focussed upon ensuring outstanding leadership and a clear focus upon excellence in everything that we do. The resources that we have available to deliver our ambition must be marshalled in a cost effective, coordinated and innovative manner if we are to ensure that we are the best possible organisation that we can be. This is why the post of Finance Director and Company Secretary is a vital one at MHA. Our current Director of Finance and Company Secretary is retiring and to help us achieve our aspirations, we need a new Director of Finance and Company Secretary with vision and outstanding leadership, an innovative approach, commercial thinking and commitment to our social ethos.
It’s a great time to join us as our new Director of Finance and Company Secretary and we are also recruiting a new Chief Executive, so this really is a great opportunity for the right person.
Once again thank you for your interest and I look forward to receiving your application.
Jabeen Tahir Interim Chair
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About Manningham Housing Association
About Us
MHA is a great quality, forward thinking housing business, building, managing and maintaining
the homes people need. We have around 1,400 properties across the Bradford and Keighley
area including social rented housing, housing for older people and shared ownership homes
The Association has over 6,000 residents and an annual turnover of around £8.5million.
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) came into existence in 1986 following a piece of
research undertaken into the housing needs of Black and Asian communities in Bradford. The
research was sponsored by the Bangladeshi Youth Organisation based in Bradford.
Serving Bradford's Minority Ethnic Communities
We are a specialist Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) association operating across the
metropolitan district of Bradford. Bradford has a growing BME population and MHA, as a
specialist association working in this area, has sustained a good demand for our properties.
Provision of Homes for Affordable Renting and Affordable Owning
Altogether, we aim to provide affordable homes of good quality for those in greatest housing
need in the Bradford district, having particular regard to for identified and unsatisfied needs in
the black communities. In recent times, we have begun to consider owning and renting homes
in the Craven District as well as in Calderdale.
Firebird Homes
MHA has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Firebird Homes, which is responsible for developing new
homes of high quality for rent and shared ownership. With the huge housing demand in
Bradford, particularly from BME communities, MHA has been very active in meeting this need
by building new homes.
Our services
If the business of housing associations can be reduced to some easy phrase, then one can
say it’s all about stock acquisition and stock management. For Manningham Housing, within
this phrase is a complex hub of services that link integrally into the Association’s range of
landlord activities.
Key categories of these activities can be cited as follows:
Development of new homes
Property lettings and sales
Tenancy management
Property management
Void management
Community involvement
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Sheltered and supported housing
Environmental management
These categories overlap in their fine detail and, as service functions, are located in various
departments of the Association.
Mission, vision and values Mission; Working mainly in Bradford and Keighley our mission is to improve people’s lives
by providing good quality homes for those who need them and a range of services aimed at
maximizing enjoyment of the homes and the local area and enhancing independence and
quality of life.
Vision; Driving for Excellence in Every Facet of our Business
Values; Our values are the operating principles that guide our conduct and our relationship
with tenants, customers, partners and stakeholders:
Customer First
o We exist because of our customers
o We welcome and act on feedback from our customers o
We always look for ways to keep our customers happy o
We aim to get things right first time
Passionate about our work
o We are highly motivated and passionate about our work
o We believe in continuous improvement
o We bring innovation and creatively to our work
Embrace Diversity
o We celebrate the diversity contained within each individual
o We believe that embracing diversity will create an environment in which talent will
flourish
o We enjoy the challenge of responding to the diversity of our customers
Accountability
o We strive to meet the highest levels of accountability
o We always take responsibility for our actions
o We believe in being honest, open and transparent in all our work
o We will work in partnership to make things happen
o Our customer influence our business
Our people Whilst individually our people are unique and diverse, they share one common attribute – a passion for great customer service and understand what it means to have a business mind and a social heart. And above all else at MHA we live our values and believe in our mission.
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Organisational structure
Structure chart
Chief Executive Officer (Vacant)
Director of Finance & Company
Secretary
(Masoud Khan)
MD Firebird Homes
(Nigel Guy)
Director of Customer Services
(Ulfat Hussain)
Development & Procurement Manager
(Vacant)
Development & Performance Manager
(Sabir Hussain)
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The Executive Team
Executive team profiles
Masoud A Khan Director of Finance and Company Secretary
Masoud is a fully qualified chartered accountant with a BA Hons, ACA, and FCCA qualification. Masoud is responsible for treasury management and private finance as well as the regulatory returns. He also oversees the finance function and is the Company Secretary. He has over 23 years’ experience of housing association finance. Prior to joining Manningham HA. Masoud spent many years working for firms of chartered accountants in a senior capacity.
Ulfat Hussain
Director of Customer Services Ulfat has specific responsibility for the delivery of services ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction. Ulfat is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, has a Degree in Housing Studies, a Post-graduate Certificate in Leadership and has recently qualified as a PRINCE2 practitioner.
Nigel S Guy
Managing Director of Firebird Homes Nigel has the responsibility of delivering new homes through our development programmes. Nigel has over 25 years’ experience in the construction and housing sectors. Nigel has a BA Hons (Int.) Architecture degree, a Higher National Certificate in building & surveying and is a member of the CIH and RIBA.
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Role profile
Job description
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND COMPANY SECRETARY
Post Title: Director of Finance and Company Secretary
Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer
Job Purpose: To lead a finance function that is modern and effective that enables the Association to achieve its vision and business objectives. To work corporately as a member of the senior management team to deliver the Association’s vision, values and business plan.
Responsible for: All staff within the Finance Team
Budget responsibility: The post holder will have overall responsibility for all budgets within
Finance and ensure that across Manningham HA budgets are maintained in a responsible and efficient manner.
Key Deliverable and Outcomes
1. To provide leadership to all staff ensuring that the finance function is modern making the best use of technology and delivers excellence through a performance driven and customer focussed culture.
2. To lead the development of financial / business planning, reporting to the Chief Executive
Officer and Board, ensuring that Manningham HA is financially viable and can meet its strategic objectives.
3. As a member of the executive team, adopt a collaborative and supportive approach
and contribute to the strategic direction of Manningham HA.
4. To develop, recommend and implement financial strategies, plans and policies that enable the management of costs to achieve economies, value for money, efficiencies and effectiveness across the whole of the business.
5. To prepare and keep under review the organisations financial business plans, and to
provide clear and regular management information on key indicators of Manningham's financial, cash flow and operational performance.
6. To secure finance on best terms for the Association’s operations including its capital
projects.
7. Ensure that the organisation’s financial systems comply with statutory / regulatory compliance and governance requirements, and that external audit requirements are met and kept up to date and to coordinate internal audit.
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8. Develop a strategic approach to risk management, develop procedures and appraisal systems for all significant areas of business and financial risk, and lead and deliver the strategy across Manningham HA. This includes the monitoring and mapping of risk assurance.
9. Provide company secretarial services and lead on all governance and regulatory
compliance activity, to ensure that governance and regulatory compliance is embedded within Manningham HA.
10. Provide company secretarial services and lead on all regulatory compliance activity
with regard to Firebird Homes Ltd.
11. Lead and deliver the Value for Money strategy, ensuring that it is embedded across the organisation, developing a strategic approach to procurement of goods, services and contracts to ensure that Manningham HA operates within a consistent framework and secures value for money to deliver a quality and cost effective service to tenants.
12. To direct the treasury management function, ensuring effective and prudent policies
and procedures are in place, and including negotiations and relationships with funders.
13. To monitor and evaluate performance / business effectiveness throughout the organisation, identifying and ensuring implementation of improvements where required.
14. Proactively engage in the diversification and growth strategy of the business,
identifying and maximise opportunities for additional funding and income generation.
15. Ensure trading relationships and trading accounts are effectively and robustly monitored and managed, in order to maximise value for money and Manningham’s commercial influence.
16. To assist the CEO in preparing and presenting regular reports for the Board and its
committees, keeping them appraised of departmental performance and procedures, new legislation and policy reviews, ensuring that the Board Members have sufficient information to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively and as required by the Regulator.
17. In the absence of the CEO to take on responsibility for the day to operation of the
Association (shared on a rotational basis with other Directors).
18. To carry out such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably request.
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Person specification
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND COMPANY SECRETARY All criteria are essential unless indicates otherwise
Qualifications Degree or equivalent
Relevant professional qualification e.g. FCA, CIMA etc. Management qualification (desirable)
Experience Significant senior management experience and of leading a finance department
Experience of leading corporate financial planning and management
Experience of business planning and risk management Experience of formulating and implementing business and
strategic plans and delivering results within a performance culture
Experience/understanding and commitment to corporate governance
Experience of working effectively with Boards and Committees A highly developed understanding of the dynamics of business
and operational management Experience of developing and managing demanding
performance standards that enable successful achievement of business plans
Skills Commercial and financial awareness and the ability to analyse complex information with clarity
High level of written, presentation and interpersonal skills appropriate to a wide range of individuals and audiences
Ability to build and facilitate strong internal team relationships and corporate working
Able to demonstrate high standards of personal resilience and integrity
Able to work under pressure and public scrutiny and deliver results to tight deadlines
Diplomatic and confidential
Personal
qualities
Understanding of and able to demonstrate the vision and values of Manningham HA
Motivational leadership skills that inspire others A person with the desire to improve services and performance
and make a real contribution to the running of the organisation A strategic thinker with a visionary approach whist possessing
the ability to drill down to appropriate detail Dynamic, innovative and energetic personality with a high
degree of personal drive and integrity, but with the sensitivity to retain the support of others
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Possessing the authority, presence and impact to engage respect from colleagues and from external contacts
Development Willing to develop own skills and evidence of personal development
Other abilities Confident and effective decision maker Able to demonstrate high standards of personal resilience and
integrity Able to work under pressure and public scrutiny and deliver
results to tight deadlines Ability to establish and sustain trust and confidence with
stakeholders, partners, communities, tenants and the general public, and to promote and represent positively and professionally, Manningham HA at all levels
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Terms and conditions
MHA offers a competitive reward package for the Director of Finance and Company
Secretary position including the following benefits:
Benefit
Details
Remuneration
£72k
Car Allowance
£6k
Pension
A contributory pension scheme
Annual leave
25 days annual leave which increases after 3 years’ service
by one further day for each complete holiday year until a
maximum of 30 days’ leave is achieved plus eight public/bank
holidays
Notice Period
3 months
Health provision
A basic healthcare scheme is provided
Other benefits
We believe in growing and developing our employees
through professional and personal development.
Full and thorough induction process - There will be a handover and overlap period with the current Director of Finance and Company Secretary to enable you to be supported and inducted into the role effectively.
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Recruitment timetable
Recruitment stage Date
Closing date 9:00am, Monday 6th February 2017
Initial interviews 16th / 17th February 2017
Assessments w/c 20th February 2017
Final Interviews* w/c 27th February 2017
It will be difficult to convene a panel especially for one individual if there is a difficulty making the interview
Further information
For an informal and confidential discussion about the position, please contact one of our
retained advisors at Altair Ltd:
Anna Hammond, Director at Altair Ltd on 07909 445616 or email
Kimberley Wallace, HR Consultant at Altair Ltd on 07585 954 218 or email
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How to apply
To apply for the Director of Finance and Company Secretary position at MHA, please go to:
http://www.altairltd.co.uk/job/mha-dof-170/. Complete our registration form and attach the
following documentation (please save your files with your surname first, followed by your first
name and a description of the file):
A detailed CV (no more than 3 sides of A4) including details of positions held (and
dates), size of budgets, teams managed and key achievements
A supporting statement (no more than 3 sides of A4) explaining your motivation in
applying for the Director of Finance and Company Secretary position at MHA and also
addressing the first three sections of the person specification (summarising how you
feel that your experience and skills make you a suitable candidate). Please give
examples of specific achievements in the last five years which demonstrate your
competence for this role.
Please provide full contact details (name, job title, organisation, phone and email) the
names and full contact details for three referees. References must include at least two
positions with separate employers and, as a minimum, cover a period of three years
employment and/or training history, where this is possible. Please note we will not take
up references without your prior permission
Completed Recruitment Monitoring Form (a Word version is available on our
website) and attached as reference at Appendix 1 of this recruitment pack
The closing date for applications is: 9:00am on Monday 6th February 2017 and the job
reference code is: ALT170.
Your application will be acknowledged and treated with strictest confidence.
The assessment and selection process
All applications will be considered and assessed against the requirements of the Person
Specification in order to select an initial long list of candidates. If you have been successful at
this stage, Altair will be in touch. If you are unsuccessful at this stage you will receive an email
from us and be offered feedback.
Initial interviews will take place with Altair in Bradford, after which a reduced number of
candidates will be invited to undertake online assessments prior to a final interview day.
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Full name Date
Gender Male Female Date of birth
Vacancy applied for
Where did you see the vacancy advertised
Do you consider yourself to have a mental or physical disability which has substantial and long term adverse effect upon your ability to carry out normal day to day activities? Yes No
If yes, please give brief details, and any facilities or provision you require for attending the interview.
Ethnic Origin - Please tick the box which you feel best describes your ethnic origin
WHITE
British Irish Gypsy or traveller Any other white background
MIXED/MULTIPLE ETHNIC GROUPS White and Black Caribbean White and Black African White and Asian Any other Mixed/multiple ethnic background
ASIAN/ASIAN BRITISH Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese Any other Asian background
BLACK/AFRICAN BACKGROUND
African Caribbean Any other Black/African/Caribbean Background
OTHER ETHNIC GROUP Arab Any other ethnic group
PREFER NOT TO SAY
Religion – Please tick a box which you feel best describes your religion
None Hindu Sikh Christian (All denominations) Jewish Any other religion Buddhist Muslim Prefer not to say
Appendix 1 | Recruitment monitoring form
Diversity monitoring form
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Manningham Housing Association is committed to Equal Opportunities in employment. All applicants for employment are asked to complete the following details. This information, which is used solely for monitoring purposes, will be treated as confidential and will be separated on receipt before consideration of applicants’ takes place.
Sexual Orientation – Please tick a box which you feel describes your sexual orientation Heterosexual Gay Woman Other Gay Man Bisexual Prefer not to say
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Recruitment advertising monitoring - Job reference code ALT170
How did you find out about this opportunity?
Please indicate “YES” as appropriate
Altair e-bulletin
Altair website
Altair Twitter
Approached directly by Altair
Online browsing
Inside Housing online
Word of mouth
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Appendix 2 | Advertisement
Director of Finance and Company Secretary
Remuneration - £72,000
Car allowance - £6,000
Are you an inspiring and experienced finance leader with commercial acumen, excellent financial management skills and a commitment to social housing values?
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) is looking for a new Director of Finance and Company Secretary to work as part of the executive team to help shape MHA and ensure its future success. MHA is a specialist BME social housing association with over 1,400 homes in Bradford and Keighley.
As Director of Finance and Company Secretary you will lead, motivate, develop and inspire the Finance Team in the effective delivery of high quality services within a customer focused environment. You will ensure our organisation’s sound financial performance through the provision of high quality accountancy, budget control and treasury management.
The successful candidate will be a proactive and customer focused senior finance professional who is able to demonstrate significant post-qualification experience, ideally within the social housing sector. An outstanding leader with excellent communication skills, you should also be able to demonstrate commercial thinking and first class financial management skills whilst showing commitment to our social ethos.
Please visit http://www.altairltd.co.uk/job/mha-dof-170/ to find out more about this exciting opportunity.